University of Northern Iowa
Boston College
Panthers Roll Past Boston College, 81-69
11/23/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2009
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands – Senior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored a career-high 32 points to lead the University of Northern Iowa to an 81-69 win over Boston College Monday afternoon in the Panthers final game of 2009 Paradise Jam Tournament.
“Our defense was the key in this win,” Ahelegbe said. “We contained them in the second half which helped a lot. Our defense has gotten better with each game. If we keep improving like that it should help us continue to get wins.”
The Panthers jumped to an early lead as Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder accounted for 11 of the Panthers 13 points early points, giving UNI a 13-5 lead early in the first half.
Boston College would charge back, taking a 41-38 lead heading into the halftime break.
UNI used a 13-0 run including back-to-back pull-up jumpers from Ahelegbe and a dunk followed by trey from O'Rear to take a nine point lead with just over 11 minutes to play.
The Eagles cut the Panther lead to six with just under four minutes remaining before Ahelegbe took the game into his own hands. Ahelegbe scored nine of the Panthers final ten points to secure the win for the Panthers.
UNI had three players in double figures lead by Ahelegbe's 32 points. Koch added 14 points while Eglseder chipped in 13.
“We were all really focused in the second half,” Ahelegbe said. “Lucas and Adam were getting me open off ball screens in the second half leaving BC with a mismatch on defense, which helped me get open looks and score.”
The Panthers scored 50 points in the paint in addition to 14 points off turnovers.
The UNI bench scored 18 points in the game with Lucas O'Rear scoring eight points and Marc Sonnen chipping in five.
UNI returns to the McLeod Center Nov. 28 taking on Northern Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
